PRIVACY POLICY

Community Vision Inc. is a not-for-profit organisation that provides community-based aged and family care services. As such, we routinely collect and use each individual's personal information to ensure delivery of appropriate, timely and quality services.

Disclosure of this information to Community Vision places Community Vision Inc. in a position of trust within the community and as such we seek to protect the privacy of individuals in accordance with the National Privacy Principles (NPPs) within the Privacy Amendment (Private Sector) Act 2000 (Privacy Act). The following Privacy Statement seeks to identify how we manage and protect the information provided to us in accordance with the Privacy Act.

Primary Purpose For Collection Of Information

The primary purpose that Community Vision collects personal information is to ensure delivery of appropriate family and aged care services that are tailored to the needs of the individual.

Secondary Purpose

Community Vision is a not-for-profit organisation that receives Government funding. Public fundraising helps us to enhance the provision of community-based aged and family care services. Occasionally, we also use the names and addresses of the people who have expressed an interest in helping to fund or to volunteer their services to Community Vision.

Information we collect, use and store

To enable delivery of community-based family and aged care services, we collect the following types of personal information.

• Name and address of client.
• Health status and services provided.
• Relevant demographic and social information.
• Name and contact number of any carers or relevant family members.
• Name and contact number of the client's General Practitioner and other relevant care providers, where necessary.

Disclosure of personal information to others

There are several instances under which Community Vision needs to provide personal information to other agencies. The first instance is where we need to provide another agency with information to enable care to be delivered to the client. The client's consent is sought prior to this release of information. A second instance occurs where, for legal reasons, we are obligated to provide information under subpoena. The Privacy Act establishes guidelines for the release of information under these circumstances. The third instance occurs when we provide de-identified information to funding agencies and Government departments to meet contractual requirements. De-identified information cannot be linked directly back to an individual.

In all other situations, the release of personal information relating to the client may only occur with the written consent of the client or legal guardian of the client. Notwithstanding the above, the client has the right to withdraw consent to release personal information at any time. Such communication should be in writing.

Reporting requirements

Community Vision is contractually obligated to provide reports to various funding bodies and Government departments. These reports usually provide de-identified information on the amount of care provided and the types of clients supported.

Under the funding provided by the Department of Veterans' Affairs for Community Nursing and Veterans' Health Care Programs, reporting information is provided to the Health Insurance Commission on the amount of care provided and the DVA pension numbers of the veteran clients supported.

Legal requirements for release of information

In the absence of the consent of the person to whom the information refers, or a person authorised to act on their behalf, under the Privacy Act, information can only be released to another if:

1. There is a statutory obligation to disclose certain information. (For example, subpoenas, warrants, coronial inquiries, provisions of the Freedom of Information Act and Guardianship Act).
2. The public interest requires the release of confidential information.

Use of contractors

At times Community Vision uses contractors to provide aspects of care to clients. Community Vision's contractors are required to abide by the same confidentiality and privacy requirements as Community Vision employees and this is clearly stated within their contract.

Keeping information up-to-date and accurate

Community Vision makes every effort to keep personal information up-to-date and accurate. This may mean that at times Community Vision staff will review the personal information held and request verification as to its accuracy.

To request access to aspects of your personal information that we might hold or to notify us of any changes or correction please contact Community Vision.

Access to individual personal information

Individuals can request access to all the personal information held by Community Vision by contacting Community Vision. This request will be evaluated as per the requirements and conditions of the Privacy Act. There may be instances where access is denied to certain record or aspects of records in accordance with the Privacy Act.

The Chief Executive Officer's staff will ensure the request is handled in a timely manner. It is reasonable to expect that extraction of the personal information required may then take up to fifteen working days due to the need to access both paper-based and computerized information systems. A nominal fee may be charged to meet the costs of extracting the information - this is at the discretion of the Chief Executive Officer.

Privacy concerns, complaints and suggestions

Community Vision is keen to ensure it adheres to the National Privacy Principles and protects the individuals right to privacy. If you have any concerns, complaints or suggestions as to how we might improve in this area please contact us. It is reasonable to expect a response to your complaint, concern or suggestion within three working days. Where a complaint requires investigation we seek to provide the findings of the investigation and discuss these with the complainant within ten working days.